One question that'll help you do the thing you really want to do

I think and write a lot about the internal conflict we all have between our short term and irrational self vs our long term and rational self.

Who do you listen to? Who do you want to listen to? Who do you wind up listening to?

Typically, I try to listen to my long-term self because our short term self is slightly irrational as its primary job is to focus on the most rewarding stimuli in the present.

So the question I try to ask myself is, "What benefits my future self?"

For example, out of all the food choices you face each day, each meal even, what benefits your future self the most?

The only downside I can think of is that if you get hit by a bus, no one collects on your future self benefits.

Of course, if you think like that, you might as well be a heroin addict and live for the now. Ridiculous right? Just like thinking you'll never benefit later on from your wise choices now.

The twist (there's always a twist) is that when you do what benefits your future self it actually feels better in the short term too. Because usually when we listen to our short term self and go against our long term self, we feel all sorts of negative feelings.

"What benefits my future self?" Try it.

Talk to ya later! :)

-Adam